Planet Hollywood card takes center stage
The card was supposed to be the opening act this weekend for the headline performer. But when an injury forced Floyd Mayweather Jr. to postpone his welterweight fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, it had the stage to itself.
The nine-bout card Friday at Planet Hollywood, to be televised by ESPN, has several quality fighters, including Cuban Olympians Guillermo Rigondeaux and Yudel Johnson and undefeated lightweight Breidis Prescott, who will meet Miguel Vazquez in the 10-round main event.
While promoter Roy Englebrecht appreciates having the spotlight to himself, he would have preferred opening for Mayweather, who was to face Marquez on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden before a rib injury last month forced the fight to be moved to Sept. 19.
“We would rather have had Floyd fight with a town full of fight fans and all the media there,” Englebrecht said. “We were hoping to tap into that. But that said, it’s a quality show. ESPN is excited about it. I’d like to think we’ll have a lot of energy in the ballroom.”
Englebrecht wisely chose to have the card in one of Planet Hollywood’s ballrooms instead of the larger Theater for the Performing Arts, which seats about 6,000. He’s hoping for a crowd of 1,000 to 1,500.
Those who watch will see Rigondeaux (1-0), an Olympic gold medalist in 2000 and 2004, fight for the first time under the guidance of trainer Freddie Roach when he faces Robert Guillen in a six-round super bantamweight bout. Rigondeaux, 28, was 243-4 as an amateur.
“He’s a very talented kid. You can see the experience and knowledge,” said Roach, who started working with Rigondeaux a few weeks ago. “He’s a very big puncher and, for 122 pounds, he’s a real heavy hitter. His defense is very good, and he’s a great counterpuncher.
“He needs to work on his activity. He needs to throw more combinations and not just be satisfied with one punch. But he likes to learn, and he picks up on new things quickly.”
Roach also trains Johnson (1-0), who will fight Chris Chatman in a four-round super welterweight bout. Johnson, 28, won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics.
“He’s very accurate,” Roach said. “He can fight. But he needs to work on putting together his combinations, and he needs more head movement on the defensive side.”
Roach said both Cuban fighters can challenge for world titles soon.
“They have talent, and with that background, there’s no need to baby them,” Roach said. “With their experience, you can move them quicker than you could a normal kid.”
Tickets, priced at $25, $50 and $100, are on sale at Planet Hollywood and through Ticketmaster. They also will be available at the door.
The first bell is scheduled for 5:45 p.m.
• JUNIOR GOLDEN GLOVES — The nation’s top amateur fighters will compete in the National Junior Golden Gloves tournament July 23 to 25 at Mesquite’s Casablanca Events Center.
The event is for competitors ages 9 to 16. Three rings will be used, with at least 15 bouts fought daily in each.
Single-session tickets are $15, with two-day passes $25 and three-day passes $30.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.